Blues end trophy drought as fans celebrate

FINALLY Saturday night belonged to the Blues fans, as Leon MacDonald-coached side ended their Super Rugby trophy drought after defeating the mighty Highlanders 23-15 in an electrifying encounter.

Emotions ran high as my good buddies and die-hard Blues fans Indra Singh and Anand celebrated the victory into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Heading into the final, the Blues had a better defensive record into the game, as they conceded 21 tries in eight matches, compared with 28 for the Highlanders.

The Blues conceded 10 tries in the competition, compared to 13 for the Highlanders.

The Blues had defeated the Highlanders 39-17 at home in round three of Super Rugby Aotearoa before “The Landers” beat them 35-29 in Dunedin in round eight.

Blues coach Leon MacDonald, who has won titles with the Crusaders, named a power-packed squad in Zarn Sullivan, Bryce Heem, Rieko Ioane, TJ Faiane, Mark Telea, Otere Black, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Nepo Laulala, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman, Ray Niuia, Karl

Tu’inukuafe, Blake Gibson, Marcel Renata, Josh Goodhue, Jonathan Ruru, Harry Plummer and AJ Lam, while his counterpart Clarke Dermody roped in the likes of Josh Ioane, Patelesio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith, Kazuki Himeno, Billy Harmon, Hugh Renton, Bryn Evans, Pari Pari Parkinson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon, Ethan de Groot, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes, Kayne Hammington, Sam Gilbert and Teariki Ben-Nicholas.

The sea of blue at Eden Park returned home happily, as their boys got back the Super Rugby trophy which they had previously won in 1996, 1997 and 2003.

Blake Gibson’s try three minutes from fulltime clinched the win at Auckland’s Eden Park after the Dunedin-based Highlanders, who trailed 13-6 at half-time, rallied with three penalties in seven minutes to lead 15-13 after 66 minutes.

A penalty goal to replacement fly half Harry Plummer gave the Blues the lead again in the 70th minute and Gibson’s try - after a break from number eight Hoskins Sotutu sealed the win when Plummer’s conversion created an eightpoint margin.

Time ran out for a Highlanders’ comeback, and the Blues celebrated in front of a home crowd of 36,000.

The grand finale was a cracker, and congratulations to the Blues.